1. Jerome Bruner was an influential American psychologist who developed the theory of cognitive constructivism, which posits that learning is an active process where learners construct new ideas based on their current and background knowledge.
2. Bruner proposed that cognitive development occurs in three stages - enactive (learning by doing), iconic (using mental images and models), and symbolic (using symbols and language) - and that instruction should help students transition between these stages.
3. Key aspects of Bruner's theory included the spiral curriculum, discovery learning, scaffolding, and using concept formation to help students categorize information. His work emphasized how instruction could be tailored to students' developmental levels and prior experiences.